Protecting Your Home From Rural Fires

Fires are naturally unpredictable, but there are some simple steps you can take to help protect your property from spreading fires.

Fire breaks

Mowing and grazing of grass along boundaries and near buildings, roads, railways, public areas and forests is essential to limit potential fire spread.

Irrigating areas around buildings, removal of dead vegetation, cleaning of roofs and gutters, trimming and thinning of trees, planting of low flammability species, and reducing build-up of rubbish are all ways that you can help lessen the likelihood of fire on your property.

Fire vehicle access

Urban and rural fire trucks are three metres high by three metres wide and weigh 14 tonnes. Can these vehicles fit through your gate and get down your driveway? Are bridges and culverts on your property able to carry the weight? What about quick access to building locations and water points? Access is the responsibility of the land owner.

Water supplies

If the Rural Fire crew has to come to your property to fight a fire, a minimum of 40,000 litres of water is needed. This water may be in property tanks (fitted with a female camlock coupling on the outlet) or in ponds, dams, or swimming pools. If you have a pressurised well, fit a coupling that fire fighters can use to connect directly into as this will save time.

Water points should be clearly signposted and should have good vehicle access, including a turning area for a water tanker.

Property identification

Ensure that your rural rapid number is clearly displayed at the gate or on your letterbox to ensure easy visual identification for emergency services in an emergency.

When reporting a fire, describe the best access to the fire to the operator and have someone out on the road to direct responding fire trucks, or use a parked vehicle with hazard lights operating as a marker.